Line-casting machine.



J. B, ROGERS. LINE CASTING MAUHINE. APrLIoATmH FILED 3111.20, 1909.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

EHEET 1.

2 BHEETS witnesses J. R. ROGERS.

LINE CASTING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED 'JAN. 20, 1909.

Yatented Dec.7,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I witmeweo UNITED srarn irnr o JOHN R. ROGERS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,ASSIGNOR 'IO MERGENTHALER LINO- TYPE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LINE-CASTING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 7,1909.

Application filed January 20, 1909. Serial No. 473,271.

State of New York, have invented a new. "and useful Improvement inLine-Casting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

.This invention has reference to line-casting machines in whichcirculating matrices and spaces, both of various thicknesses, are

temporarily composed in line and presented to a mold to form typecharacters on a slug cast therein, are thereafter delivered toadistributing mechanism by .which the matrices and spaces are returnedto the appropriate individual channels in the magazine.

As the matrices and spaces are alike, except that the latter contain nocharacters,

and as they are assembled and distributed in the same manner, the termmatrices is hereinafter used in a generic sense to include botlrniatrices and spaces! Although applicable to an extent to othermachines, the improvements are intended more particularly for useinMergenthaler machines of the general organization represented in'Letters Patent of the United States Nos. 436,531 and 436,532, in whichmatrices having toothed notches in their upper end are suspended from ahorizontal, toothed distributer bar, along which they are carried byhorizontal screws until they arrive individually over theircorresponding channels, into which they are permitted to fall by reasonof their being released by the teeth of the distributer bar. In thisclass of machines-for various reasons unnecessary to dctailit is thepractice to arrange the magazine, channels as closely together as thewidth of the matrices will permit.

As heretofore constructed the feed devices have delivered a matrix tothe feed screws at each revolution of the latter, so that a matrix wascarried between each turn of the screw threads and the next. Inconsequence of this fact the distance between thick matrices travelingalong the distribu'. ter bar was very small, and it occasionallyhappened that the lower end of an advancing matrix would overtake andbind against lia d not had sutlicient time to pass below the path of thesec m l'matriX.

The proper speed of the machine demands that the matrices shall becarried forward through the distributing mechanism in as rapidsuccessionas possible, but at moderate speed so that they will not vibrate on thebar. I have therefore modified-the distributing mechanism in such mannerthat while thin matrices, or matrices of ordinary thickness aredelivered at each rotation of the screws and between adjoining turns ofthe screw thread and thus carried in close order, the very thickmatrices are delivered only to alternate threads of the screws.

I believe it to be entirely new in the art to deliver matrices to acarrying mechanism of a distributor at irregular intervals, or atvarying distances apart, according to their thickness; and it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that this idea may be embodied inmany different forms the equivalent of that herein shown.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a distributingmechanism having my invention incorporated therein. Figs. 2,

construction.

its lower edge of V form, with longitudinalteeth, permuted or varied inarrangement at different points in its length. I

B, B represent the matrices, having in their upper ends, as shown inFigs. 8 and 9, V shaped notches toothed to engage the teeth of thedistributer bar for the purpose of suspending the matricestherefrom-matrices bearing diflerent characters having differentarrangements of teeth. The matrices have the usual ears or shouldersprojecting edgewise therefrom at the upper and lower ends.

C, 'C' C are three horizontal screws adapted to engage the matricessuspended from the distributor bar for the purpose of carrying themalong-the same from the receivlng end to the points at which they arereleased and delivered to the magazine. The

bar A and the screws constitute the distributing mechanism proper.

D represents the upper end of the magazine, having a series of verticalpartitions or plates, d, which receive the falling matrices anddirect/them into the continuing channels of the magazine.

E, E are fixed parallel rails which support and guide the composed linesof matrices introduced between them preparatory to their delivery to thedistributer bar and screws. These rails lie beneath the upper ears ofthe matrices and give support to the entire line which is forced endwisealong the rails until the foremost matrix encounters I the stopshoulders, (2, formed on the rails.

Beyond these shoulders the upper edges of the rails have an upwardinclination toward the distributer ba a thick, shouldered, matrix at theend of the F represents a vertically reciprocating finger orliftercarried by a lever, G, having a definite length of n'lovenient andserving to raise the matrices which stand successive'ly at the front ofthe line clear of the stop shoulder, e, and between the threads of thecarrier screws which act to advance the matrices along the risingsurface of the rails in and thence upon and along the distributer Thefeed screws and the finger-actuating lever G are connected through theusual operating devices in such manner that the finger rises and fallsonce at each revolution of the screws.

' So far as described the parts may all. be of the ordinary constructionand have the ordinary mode of operation.

When thin matrices are presented they will be lifted successively by thefinger F and presented between successive turns or convolutions of thethread, soas to travel in close order along the distributer.- In order,however, to cause the presentation of the very thick matrices betweenthe alternate threads, only, of the screws, that is, to every secondturn of the screws, I modify the parts as follows: The upper end or lipof the lifting finger F is extended for a greater distance thanheretofore above its usual lifting shoulder f. The thick'matrices arerecessed at the lower end across one side, to form a shoulder 6, thisshoulder having a horizontal width slightly greater than that of theshoulder on the liftingfinger F.

The action of the parts is as follows: If

line is presented against the lifting finger F, as shown in Fig. 2, theupper extremity of the finger bears on the outer vertical face of the-matrix and the finger is held back, so that when it rises its shoulder,f, is prevented from engaging the lower end of the matrix. The fingerconsequently rises until the shoulder f encounters the shoulder b, onthe mat-rix, whereup on the-finger acts to lift the matrix a part onlyof the usual distance, to the position shown in Fig. 3, so that it isstill retained. by the shoulder a of the supporting rail. The finger,leaving the matrix in this position, descends, and again rises, andduring its second ascent its upper extremity acting beneath the shoulderb of the matrix as shown in Fig. 4, lifts the matrix to the uppermostposition, clear of the shoulder c, as shown in Fig. 5, and intoengagement with the feed screws, so that itbwill be advanced to andalong the distributer The stop shoulder 6 may have a straight, verticalface, the friction of which will be sufficient to hold the thickmatrices when lifted by the first movement of the finger; or it may bemade with a horizontal step or shoulder to underride' the matrix at suchtime and prevent it from falling to the original position.

It will be observed that two upward movements of the finger F arerequired to lift the thick matrix to the carrying devices. During thesetwo movements the screws make two revolutions, and consequently thethick matrices are delivered only to every second turn of the threads,as clearly shown in Fig. 1. There is, consequently, sufficientseparation between the matrices advancing horizontally along thedistributer bar to admit of one matrix falling clear of the bar and sofar downward between the partitions, d, of the magazine that thesucceeding matrix may pass over its upper end without danger of conflicttherewith.

If a thin matrix, without the shoulder I), be. presented to the liftingfinger the shoulder f of the latter will engage beneath the lower end ofthe matrix, as shown in Fig. 6, and the matrix will be lifted at once toits uppermost or delivery position by the first movement of the finger.Thus it will be seen that thin matrices will lie delivered at eachrevolution of the screws, or to im mediately succeeding turns of thethreads. while the thick matrices will be delivered at longer intervals,each matrix controlling the delivery devices and determining the periodwhich elapses between its delivery and the delivery of the precedingmatrix.

The essence of my invention resides in the employment of means whichwill deliver to a carrier mechanism of a distributor thin matrices atshort intervals and thick matrices at longer intervals.

It is evident that the parts may be widely modified without departingfrom the general mode of action or passing beyond the scope of theinvention.

In Figs. 10, 11 .and l2 I have represented an alternative method ofconstruction. In this embodiment of the invention the thick matrices arerecessed or shouldered as described above, but the stopshoulder of theset-2,845

rails E is modified by the formation of a small shoulder a thereon, ot'a horizontal width equal to that of the matrix shoulder l). The liftingfinger I is in this rise made without the lip or shoulder at the upperend. It works against a guide surface. by which it prevented raring itsupward n'iovenient from passing beneath thelower end of the matrix.During this tirst upward movement the finger acts against the matrixshoulder b and lifts the matrix from the original position shown in Fie. to to the position shown in, Fig. it, clear of the shoulder e. 'henthus lifted the matrix is carried for and horizontally to the po-itionshown in Fig. 11, so that when the linger rises the second timeit willact beneath the lower end of the matrix as shownin Fig. 12, and lift thesame to its tinal position between the feed screws.

I do not claim herein the special arrangement of distrilmting screws inrelation to a. magazine as shown in the drawings, this arrangementforming the sul' ject-matter ot' a separate invention.

I do not claim the matrices represented in the d 'awings, the sal'nebeing the subjectmatter of an application for Letters Patent; of theUnited States tiled on the rth day of May. 1909. Serial Number 493,80

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byIietters Iatand means controlled by the matrices and acting to deliverthin matrices tothe distributer at short intervals and thick matrices"'at longer intervals, substantially as described.

In a line-casting machine, the combination of the toothed distributorbar, feed screws adjacent thereto,,a vertically reciprocating feedfinger, and matrices shouldered substantially as described; whereby twoupward movements of the finger are required. to deliver a matrix to thescrews.

3. In a line casting machine, the combination of the horizontaldistributer bar, the feed screws, the rails E having shoulders to limitthe horizontal advance of the matrices, thick matrices with liftingshoulders thinner matrices without such shoulders, and a lifting fingershouldered substantially as described, whereby it is enabled to lift thethin matrices to the distributor bar by a single stroke and the thickermatrices by two strokes.

i. In a line-easting machine, the coinbination of a distributer bar,adjacent feed screws. a lifting finger. means for presenting matricessuccessively thereto, and a series of thick and thin matrices, theformer being shouldered and the latter without .--'houlders.substantially as described; whereby the thin matrices are presented tothe distributing devic at shorter intervals than the thick matrices.

.7. The combination of a distributing mechanism and means'ifordelivering individual matrices thereto at longer or shorter intervalsaccording to their thickness.

tL-In a line casting machine, a series of matrices (littering, inthickness and in form, in combination with means for feeding saidmatrices to the distril'iuting mechanism. said means adaptedsubstantially as described to feed matrices of one form at shorterintervals than those of the other form.

7. In a distributing mechanism a magazine having channels to receive thematrices, an overlying distributor bar adapted to carry the matrices andrelease them met therespective ,-hannels, means for feeding the matricesalong the .bar and means adapted to deliver matrices to the bar atlonger or shorter intervals according to thickness.

8. The con'ibination ot a distributing mechanism, means for presenting aline of matrices below the level of the distributor, and means fordelivering the individual matrices to the distributer by two successivesteps.

9. In a distributing mechanism the combination of a lifting device,means for presenting successive matrices thereto, and matrices ofvariant forms at the lower end, the

relative forms of the matricesand the lifting device being such thatcertain matrices are "lifted the full height by a single movement of thelifting device, while other matrices are lifted by said device first toone level and then to a higher level.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 7th day of January,190$), in the presence of twoattesting witnesses.

, JOHN R. ROGERS.

WVitnesses DAVID S. KENNEDY,

LUoY E. SMrrn.

